Tag Archives: Tucson City Council

There are 2 contested races for Tucson City Council in Ward 3 and 6 on the General Election (Nov. 7, 2017) ballot. The Arizona Daily Star endorsed Ward 6 Democratic Councilman Steve Kozachik, seeking his 3rd term. And for Ward 3 the newspaper editorial board has endorsed political newcomer Gary Watson (I, former Republican) who is a Captain of a Northwest fire station and JTED instructor. Read the endorsements here (page A8 print edition) :

Ward 6 Councilman Kozachik is being challenged by Republican architect (political newcomer) Mariano Rodriguez and Green Party candidate Mike Cease (Chair of the Pima County Green Party) who ran unsuccessfully for Pima County Recorder in Nov. 2016.

On October 13, AZPM Metro Week host Vanessa Barchfield interviewed candidates running for the Tucson City Council in contested races in Wards 3 and 6. In Ward 3 Democrat Paul Durham and Independent Gary Watson face off for the open seat; and incumbent (2 term) Councilmember Steve Kozachik is being challenged in Ward 6 –by Green Party candidate Mike Cease and Republican Mariano Rodriguez. Both Ward 3 candidates and all 3 Ward 6 candidates met in studio with Ms. Barchfield.

Ward 5 Councilmember Richard Fimbres is also running for re-election, is unopposed, and thus was not interviewed.

Early voting began this week on October 11, the same day mail in ballots went out for the Nov. 7, 2017 General Election.

Five propositions are also on the ballot in Tucson: Prop. 202 & 203 (proposed sales tax for Reid Park zoo), Prop. 204 (proposed sales tax for early childhood education), Prop. 406 (salary raises for the Mayor and 6 Councilmembers) and Prop. 458 (bonds for TUSD to be repaid by secondary property taxes).

Two candidates are vying for the open Ward 3 seat on the Tucson City Council. Democrat Paul Durham is a retired attorney and prevailed in the August Democratic primary over Felicia Chew and Tom Tronsdal. He will face off with Independent (former Republican) Gary Watson, Captain of a Northwest fire station. There is no Republican or Green Party candidate in this Ward 3 race.

Paul Durham

Gary Watson

Both candidates were in a KVOI radio forum today, moderated by host Bill Buckmaster on 1030 AM on the dial. Listen to the forum (click on link below), where they addressed their one big issue facing the City, the economy, education, renewal energy & solar, police & firefighter funding, “bump stock” rifle banning, Prop. 204 Strong Start Tucson, Propositions for Reid Park Zoo, their choice/vote for US President in Nov. 2016, listening to other opinions, plus closing statements.

Ward 3 Councilmember Karin Uhlich is retiring after 3 terms (12 years) on the City Council. She said at a SAAF (Southern Arizona Aids Foundation) farewell party last week to “vote for Paul.” Karin endorsed Felicia in the primary.

Hopefully all candidates will attend this League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson (LWVGT) candidate forum. The forum will be moderated by former LWVGT President Shirley Sandelands. Members of the audience will be able to submit questions in writing. Index cards will be made available for questions.

Ward 3 (open seat)

Paul Durham (D)

Gary Watson (I)

Ward 5 (unopposed)

Richard Fimbres (D), incumbent – 2 terms

Ward 6

Mike Cease (G)

Steve Kozachik (D), incumbent – 2 terms

Mariano Rodriguez (R)

Also this week on October 11: Both Ward 3 candidates will be hosted on the Bill Buckmaster radio show (1030 AM on the dial) at 12:30 p.m., www.buckmastershow.com.

AZPM Channel 6 Metro Week will be hosting the City Council candidates on Friday the 13th of October, 6:30 p.m., or online at ww.azpm.org.

Can an Independent candidate win in a Tucson City Council race? For the first time in a long time, an Independent (Gary Watson in Ward 3) is running for political office in Tucson. Having reported for Tucsoncitizen.com for 4.5 years and here at Blogforarizona.net for 3.5 years, I’m trying to recall when Independents have run or been in political office.

Former Republican Pima County Supervisor Ed Moore ran for re-election in Nov. 1996 as an Independent, and lost to newcomer Democrat Sharon Bronson. Tucson City Council member Carol West was a long time Democrat and changed to Independent, then did not seek re-election in 2007. Former Republican Gene Chewning ran for AZ House in LD 27 in 2010 as an Independent and lost, as did former Dem AZ House Representative Ted Downing in LD 28 State Senate race. And didn’t Green Party candidate Dave Ewoldt also run as an Independent for State Senator in LD 28, to get onto the 2010 General Election ballot? They both lost to the Democrat incumbent Senator.

So, no Independent candidate has run and won in Tucson (as far as I know). Chewning told me after his 2010 loss, that because he ran as an Independent, he no longer had a party structure to assist in his campaigning. He got a lot more votes as a Republican for the same LD 27 House race in 2006.

Firefighter /Captain of a Northwest fire station Gary Watson (I, former Republican) said at a recent AZ Independents forum at Murphy-Wilmot library that he was “not R enough for the Republican Party”, and “not D enough for the Democratic Party”.

“The televised edition of Zona Politics airs at 6:30 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. Sundays on the Creative Tucson network, Cox Channel 20 and Xfinity Channel 74. You can hear a radio edition of the show at 5 p.m. on community radio KXCI, 91.3 FM.”

Community Events

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Hosted by YWCA Arizona – STAT-Stand Together Arizona Training & Advocacy “The STAT team is back from Montgomery, Alabama after attending Equal Justice Initiative’s Peace and Justice Summit, as well as the opening of the Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to … Continue reading →

Hosted by LUCHA – Living United for Change in Arizona and Mi Familia Vota “Join LUCHA and Mi Familia Vota for a Community Conversation on What’s Next for Arizona! Community members are invited to come and share the issues they … Continue reading →

Fightback Against privatization of VA Hospitals Fightback Against Federal Union Busting We Remember in November ! Flip Congress Nov 6th Purpose of Town hall: Education ourselves and take action – fight back Union busting – what does it mean for … Continue reading →